Just North of Charleston and across the Cooper River Bridge lies Isle of Palms. The island was first home to indigenous Seewee Indians and is believed to be over 25,000 years old. It is also rumored that pirates used to inhabit the island and buried their treasures in the sand dunes. No treasures have been found yet. Today, with it’s six mile stretch of white sand, it’s a great summertime family getaway.

Begin the day by heading to the Isle of Palms County Park. It’s the closest parking available to the beach. They offer parking for $7.00 per day and also maintain picnic areas, changing stations, restrooms and showers. Lifeguards are on duty from Nov.-Feb. 10am-5pm; March-April & Sept.-Oct. 10am-6pm; May-Labor Day 9am-7pm.

To have an enjoyable day at the beach, it is best to bring some essentials. Beach chairs or towels will be more comfortable than sitting on the sand all day. A beach umbrella is also a good idea as the South Carolina sun can be hot. Bring a small shovel in order to dig a deep enough hole to make sure the umbrella doesn’t blow away. Boogie Boards are available for rent at the County Park or bring one.Skim Boards are also becoming very popular. Suntan lotion is a must, of course. All that’s left is a cooler with some water and a great book! Fido can also come to the beach as well. Isle of Palms is one of the few beaches that does not have pet restrictions during the summer.

Where to Eat at Isle of Palms

Head to Coconut Joe’s for lunch. The beach restaurant and bar is just to the right of the Isle of Palms pier on Ocean Avenue. It has a rooftop bar with live music and the second story is the restaurant. They serve up good hamburgers and cold drinks. Dress is casual as some flip flops and a swim cover-up are all that is needed.

Have dinner at The Boathouse at Breach Inlet. It’s been in business since 1994 and is a converted bait shop. It was also the actual launching site of the United States first submarine, the H.L. Hunley. They have some of the freshest seafood around and for non seafood lovers the steaks are also great.

Where to Stay at Isle of Palms Beach

Wild Dunes Resort is very popular and has many condos, rental homes and villas for rent in varying sizes. There is also the AAA four diamond Boardwalk Inn at Wild Dunes. Off island about a mile or two located in the town of Mount Pleasant is the Marriott Residence Inn. This hotel is one of the few that allows pets. This hotel is located in the Mount Pleasant Town Centre shopping area and is close to shopping and restaurants.

So load up the car, grab fido and head to the beach before summer is over!

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About the Author

Sherry Jackson’s love of travel came at a young age. Her family would load up the car on the weekend, pick a destination and set off to explore. She has traversed thru jungles, snorkeled the turquoise waters of the Caribbean and wandered the streets of Paris, always searching for her next adventure. Her articles have been featured in a variety of outlets including USA Today, Blue Ridge Country, Foothills Spotlight Magazine, Jetsetter, Bootsnall, Gadling, Yahoo, CityRoom, The Simpsonville Sentinel and countless other print and online publications. She owns and maintains four websites (www.seethesouth.com , www.dragonflyventures.com, dvtravels.net and www.rulesforeveryday.com). Sherry is a member of the International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) and the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA). Her work can be viewed at www.dragonflyventures.com.